Likely ASD - success stories and other tips please

[Fourlittlepiggies]

Ds1 is in y1. Teacher has announced he likely has ASD and has provided a list of behaviours he is displaying to back this up. I am spiralling about what this means for him - we have a meeting next term with the senco but the sen support at the school is known to be crap at best.

Summary:

• highly intelligent. Working at least 3 years ahead in maths
• has been reading fluently since preschool. Verbal comprehension is excellent but rushes when writing
• can’t sit still
• rushes work because he is desperate to read
• socially is doing well but misses some social norms - examples given are he interrupts teacher when talking to another child, will stand up at carpet time and say he is going to the toilet.

I don’t want to minimise this but wonder:

• does he simply need to be talked through social rules (eg we wait to to talk to teacher etc)
• are the other things a problem

Looking for positive stories from those with older dc that were diagnosed around the same (young) age and with similar behaviours. Also any tips on how best to support him would be wonderful.

thank you.

I’m no expert but struggling to see how these are “signs”.

Does he have any sensory or similar issues? Does he display any repetitive behaviours?

Issues with social communication are needed for a diagnosis - but he is “doing well socially”? Have you noticed anything unusual about his social interactions?

Does he have any particular interests? Does he eat and sleep well?

Thanks, in answer to your questions…

Sensory - he used to mindlessly put things in his mouth which had all but stopped. Recently he has started chewing the top of his coat. I’m not sure what else would be relevant here.

Food - he’s quite fussy but no more so than my other dc, who are all NT as far as I know.

Sleep - sleeps well and has done since he was a baby, but has lower sleep needs than my other dc. Is often awake by 6am.

Repetitive behaviours - could you give an example? When he is into playing with a certain thing/ interested in it, he will play with it for several days in a row.

Interests vary, but when he is into something like Pokemon, he will learn everything he can about it. The extent to which he can retain information blows my mind!

Socially he has a variety of friends and joins in with play. He goes to various clubs during the week.

Other things I’ve noticed:

• he’s very black and white and takes things literally. Gets very upset if someone goes back on what they have said.
• has an excellent memory - even as a toddler would recall visiting places from the year before, remembers friends house numbers having visited once etc.

I don’t have any knowledge or experience in this area but from what you’ve said he just sounds like a bright little boy to me.

Have a look at the diagnostic criteria and see whether you think he genuinely satisfies any of them. It is possible to be clever without having ASD.

I'd say he probably warrants a closer look by professionals. It's not a bad thing to be assessed earlier.
He's no more or less ASD by being assessed but if he is autistic, it's better for him and you to know this and understand his behaviours and how best to support him.
My DD is autistic. Diagnosed at 17. Bit of stuff to unpick about how this impacted her teens.
She's at university now, having a fabulous time, is well adjusted and sociable. Still very much autistic though! But understands herself well and how to make life work for her. Has many other ND friends.